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In Maine supplemental comments on proposed rule are due by October 6, 2025.  

On October 1, 2025 the transcript of August 30, 2025 public hearing was made available. 

Initial Comment highlighted below:

AARP: (i) agreed “that LIAP customers should receive a monthly benefit as opposed to one to two lump sum payments as allowed by the current rule”; (ii) agreed “that the smaller Consumer Owned Utilities should be allowed to continue their current programs at the current funding level”; (iii) recommended “that the rulemaking be accompanied by a factual analysis and presentation of what would be required to fund a program that uses the 4% of household income policy recommended by the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council (ERAC) and the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA),” in order to “allow a decision about the reasonable level of funding and impact on rates”; (iv) recommended “that the rule specifically identify the percentage discounts for each income Fer based on the 4% of household income analysis,” rather than allowing the utilities to determine the percentage discounts based on the level of funding they estimate to receive under the current rule’s funding formula”; (v) opposed “the recommendation to limit the amount of the credit or discount to the average residential usage, thus denying assistance to customers who use more than the average for reasons that may reflect their housing, medical needs, older appliances, or relying on home heat pumps during cold winter days”; and (vi) opposed language stating “that the percentage discount or credit is calculated on the ‘overall bill amount for transmission, distribution and supply charges’,” arguing that requiring “payment of the fixed monthly charge outside the benefit calculation significantly impairs the ability of the proper intent to provide bill payment assistance based on the 4% of household income directive to guide LIAP rate design”; 

Madison Electric Works said that: (i) it “has determined that administering LIAP benefits on a monthly basis would place an undue burden on staff resources and would not be cost-effective for the company”; and (ii) “even if the process were to be facilitated through modifications to the company’s billing program, the costs associated with system adjustments, implementation, and ongoing oversight would outweigh any potential efficiencies gained.” 

Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative opposed using electricity rates “to fund a societal program,” arguing that doing so “only helps to compound the electricity affordability issue”

As background, the Maine PUC initiated this docket to consider amendments to the statewide low-income assistance plan (LIAP). MEPUC’s proposed rule maintains the current apportionment and assessment process and the operations of consumer-owned utility programs, but it requires investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to redesign their programs and implement a new discount rate program, effective October 1, 2026.  

Proposed program provisions include:

• expanded program eligibility from 75% to 150% of the federal poverty level;
• each IOU must annually establish a four-tiered discount rate for customers with incomes 0-75%, 76-100%, 101-125%, and 126-150% of the federal poverty level;
• participants are to be enrolled for a 12-month period from their enrollment date, with a new discount rate taking effect each 10/1;
• discount is a percentage reduction to overall bill amount for transmission, distribution, and supply, and may be identified as either a discounted rate or a credit; and
• capping any portion of the discount rate that applies to volumetric charges at the utility’s average monthly residential usage.

2025-00241
(Amendments To Chapter 314 Statewide Low-Income Assistance Plan Rule)